Jerebko’s contagious energy on full view for SVG in Pistons camp

Stan Van Gundy was on the other bench for Jonas Jerebko’s first career start, which happened to be his second NBA game. He remembers a player who appeared headed for the league lead in floor burns and abrasions.

He recognizes that player in the Jonas Jerebko he’s seen for a week of training camp, too.

“Yesterday when we played in the scrimmage, he had 12 rebounds,” Van Gundy said after another three-hour practice on Monday, the last major tune-up before Tuesday’s preseason opener at The Palace against Chicago (7:30 p.m., NBA TV). “Didn’t get as many shots, but did a good job moving the ball, setting screens, constantly in motion on the boards. He’s playing really, really hard.”

That was exactly the marching orders Van Gundy gave the six-year veteran – only Will Bynum, in his seventh year, has more tenure among current Pistons – in their summer conversations. A week ago, when Van Gundy was asked where Jerebko fit, he said, “I think the key to Jonas – and we talked about this early on – is he has to get back to being the guy he was when he first came in the league, that hungry guy playing with incredible energy.”

Jerebko took it to heart, spent the summer working on individual skills he couldn’t fully address in past off-seasons while committed to his Swedish national team and cleansed his mind from the negativity of the past few seasons, when he grew frustrated with an inconsistent role that changed from coach to coach – and Van Gundy will be his fifth.

He couldn’t be more pleased and encouraged with what he’s seen so far.

“Best (training camp) I had, best one we had as a team, best one in my six years,” he said. “It’s been great. Great intensity. We’ve been in here since September, almost all of us, so we really came into this training camp ready and we’ve been going hard and we’re ready to play.”

Jerebko also came to camp in the best physical condition of his career, fully intent on putting his trademark manic intensity on display whenever Van Gundy called his number. He’s comfortable that he’s made an impression over the first week.

“I’ve been really putting some work in and just running the floor with energy, setting screens, moving the ball, making open shots and doing what I’m supposed to do on the court,” he said. “In my six years, this is by far the best training camp and by far the most ready we’ve been for a season.”

Van Gundy said last week that he would play at least nine players – two at each of the three perimeter spots to go with the big three up front of Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith – but added that he was leaning toward a 10-man rotation simply because of how impressively Jerebko had played.

“He’s at our deepest position, probably,” he said. “If you look at our roster, our best position is with those guys up front at the four and five. So he’s at the toughest position to crack for minutes, but he’s playing well.”

That’s the role Van Gundy envisions for him, too – stretch four. Jerebko has swung between power forward and small forward over his years, but Van Gundy said, “I don’t really see him at (small forward). I think he would struggle defensively. I think he’s a four.”

Van Gundy’s Orlando teams made great use of hybrid forwards like Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu, often playing with four perimeter players surrounding Dwight Howard. Jerebko doesn’t have to strain his imagination to see himself in such a role.

“I’m really looking forward to playing for him and whatever he wants me to do, I’m going to try to do. I’m trying to put what’s happened before behind me and just looking forward. I’m really looking forward to playing for coach. I’ve been in Detroit for all my years in the NBA, so I really haven’t had consistency and I’m hoping this is the year to see how it’s supposed to be. He’s been real strict and everybody’s just been working hard and working together. We haven’t concentrated on one person. It’s a team effort and that’s what I love about this.”